h&b takes on five more members

Published: 22 July, 2011

ENFIELD: The dynamic h&b buying group powered ahead with five new members joining the ranks. The organisation now has 74 members across the UK.

Founded over 12 years ago, with a handful of members in Hertfordshire & Buckinghamshire, giving it its h&b name, the group took a leap forward when it merged with the well-respected West Country buying group WBM in 2008 and doubled its membership.

Since then, h&ab has grown apace. With the addition of these latest members, the organisation claims to be the fastest growing group for independent merchants.

The new members are Henshaws Roofing Supplies. Established over 25 years ago and based in Urmston, Manchester, the firm is a major supplier of Sandtoft clay tiles and other roofing products and is currently opening a new yard and expanding into the sale of general building materials.

Founder George Henshaw commented: "It was an easy decision to apply for membership of the h&b Group. We are delighted with the outcome which means we can continue our expansion plans and meet the challenges ahead with renewed confidence."

With a mainly heavyside and civils customer base, BDL Construction Supplies is a fast-growing new company located on a one-acre site in Tibshelf, Derbyshire. Co-owner Paul Beaman knows about h&b from his days as managing director of former member UGS and is delighted to join the group.

"From my previous experience, it was always the only choice to help us expand and increase the product range we offer."

Greengates Builders' Merchants is a family-run heavyside merchant based in Accrington. Founded in 1987, it now employs 18 people and runs a fleet of three crane wagons.

Stuart Ward founded Forward Builders' Supplies in 1987 principally to supply civils contractors. It operates out of a three-acre site in Ellesmere Port and supplies timber and general building materials, civils and also features a landscaping department.

Ru Butler of Peppard Building Supplies, based in Reading, neatly summed up why Peppards joined h&b: "Fiercely independent, we spent some time looking at various buying groups and decided that h&b offered the best fit for our company. It has close ties with all of the key suppliers and has given added depth to our purchasing team. It is worth mentioning that after meeting the members I can think of no better partners with which to push the independent sector forward."

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